MOTIVATION for READING: I responded to a Twitter request for tour hosts. Timing was good for me to read this by today (except I had Dec 12 in my planner – why did I have that?! oh well.) I was ready to read more about the Depression era and it truly was a well-crafted memoir exploring family, a town and a particular challenging piece of history: the Hard Times.

WHAT’s it ABOUT: Mr. Gup was given an unusual piece of luggage that had belonged to his grandfather and he wondered about it. I do that a lot; WONDER about stuff, especially items that have been passed down through my family and also about buildings. But not buildings that have been passed down through the family – I don’t have any of those. (These points ARE related.) But I do wonder… “How did this one item come to be in my grand_____’s possession? What were her thoughts on it? Did you know it would come into my hands? Was it special to her in some way?” I’ll never know. It’s too late to find out.

But Ted Gup, being a skilled professional researcher, investigative journalist and writer was able to find out SO MUCH!

The suitcase contained letters and newspaper clippings from 1935 that told a story of one man giving away money to hard-pressed families in need and keeping it all secret. These letters were addressed to a name Gup didn’t recognize; fortunately his mother did know the name but not much else. He had to dig and find exactly what this collection was about and thus unraveled a mystery and triggered the project idea for this book. (Though I don’t think at that time he had a book in mind.) He was just hoping to learn more about his grandfather.

HOW ONE MAN’S KINDNESS – AND A TROVE OF LETTERS – REVEALED THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION

WHAT I LIKED: One of the best things about this book was personal for ME. My mom and dad were here for Thanksgiving and my mother hijacked this book (while I was in the middle of it!) and she liked it, too. But the BEST THING? We talked about OUR HISTORY. What she could remember about her parents and the Depression and how people DIDN’T REALLY TALK ABOUT IT and how each generation has a different approach to learning about this time. It was all quite fascinating.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Can’t think of a thing! I loved the fact that it had photos. I appreciated that Mr. Gup was honest about exposing some truths he found about his family that may not have been positive. I admired the look into religious animosity and how the gift transcended that.

MORE ABOUT BUILDINGS: I wish I could say I knew Canton, Ohio which is where Gup’s grandfather lived at the time. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the town and buildings, then and now. This is one of those things I wonder about – I love old buildings and like to imagine when it was built, who enjoyed it, etc and then some. The book doesn’t go into too much depth but I’m glad it was included.

The stories of the people who asked for the cash and what happened to the families since were wonderful. Some were sad, some were happy and it was just. INTERESTING. I’m glad I read this book.